The index is a weighted composite of three components, each computed as a percentile across the 24 covered metros. The weights are the methodology, so they are public:
Pool depth · 50%
Division-relevant occupation employment (BLS OES), inverted: smaller pools score tighter.
Labor slack · 30%
Metro unemployment rate (BLS LAUS), inverted: lower unemployment means fewer available workers.
Wage competition · 20%
Division mean wage percentile: higher local pay signals employers already bidding for scarce talent.
What it is: a relative index across TWF's covered Southeast metros, refreshed with each federal data release, published openly so anyone can check the math.
What it is not: a national measure, a forecast, or a substitute for market judgment. Durham-Chapel Hill at 86 does not mean hiring is impossible; it means your offer, your speed, and your employer brand have to work harder there, and we price that reality into every engagement.
The index is computed from our published Southeast Workforce Dataset. Download the full file and recompute it yourself.